PLANNERS ADVISED TO PARTNER PROFESSIONAL BODIES …IN DEVELOPING LIVABLE HUMAN SETTLEMENT

The Minister for Environmental, science, and Technology Madam Sherry Ayittey has advised the Institute of planners and the Association of planners to collaborate with other professional bodies involved in the development of the built environment to ensure concerns in the development of livable human settlements is met.
According to her these bodies should work hard to deal with today’s challenges so the upcoming generations could look at the future with confidence.
Madam Ayittey made this statement at a West African Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Association of Planners held in Accra.
She said unplanned, haphazard, uncontrolled and non-conforming development is a major problem in the country adding that landowners engage planners, surveyors or unqualified persons to prepare subdivision plans for areas not convered by structure plans or planning schemes.
“they survey the land and sell plots, and people proceed to build houses without roads, water , electricity, waste management service, sullage drains and other community services and facilities” she added.
 She pointed out that planners are often blamed for the unplanned and haphazard development  which appears that chief decision-makers and the general public are not aware of the serious problem that affect the functions of the Town and Country Planning Department.
She again advised that as professionals in the development of built environment there is a need to build on a sustainable and innovative principle to meet the great challenges of time.
The Mayor of Accra Hon. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije who was the chairman of the programme also stated on the theme ‘Regional Integration for Regional Planning’ adding that it aid to encourage participant to work hard to build finest cities for themselves.
He said West Africa Planners should challenge with the need to develop to change their environment. “we must make conditions better for various cities”.
He then shown appreciation to the institute of Planners and urged all to stand firm and plan properly together with the city authorities.